Li-ion battery technology looks set to be given a new lease of life with the emergence of an improved electrolyte process that promises increased heat tolerance and a significantly longer lifespan.
Li-Imide
Today's Li-ion batteries have limited lifespans thanks to the build up of crystal deposits within the electrolyte that …

Place your bets....

Probably very slowly..

Better battery tech, eg lightweight batteries that take more charge cycles and longer to loose capacity, is a key component in a low-fossil fuel future; so expect this to be massively disrupted and delayed by every means possible.

and when are they going to have AA/AAA

Never

"""and when are they going to have AA/AAA sizes to power other consumer kit?"""

Short answer: Never.

Long answer: Cell voltage depends on the chemicals inside the battery. Your standard Alkaline battery runs at 1.5V, and a rechargeable NiCd or NiMH will do 1.2V - close enough. Unfortunately most lithium-ion batteries produce around 4V per cell, and I imagine that lots of consumer electronics which expect 3V would not get along well on 8V. Not for long, in any case.

Patented salt?

I didn't know you could patent such things. I assumed it was like natural genes: you can patent its use in a certain process, but not the sequence itself. Do chemical compounds have the same rule? (i.e. naturally occurring, no patent; artificial creation, patent fine)